A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation to sanction persons involved in Iran's ballistic missile program and require the president to enforce an arms embargo against Tehran.

The measure introduced on July 13 by Republicans Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio, along with Democrats Robert Menendez and Joe Manchin, would expand sanctions for Iran's ballistic missile development and sanction transfers of conventional weapons to or from Iran.

The legislation's goal is to punish Iran for its continued support for terrorist groups, as well as for pressing ahead with its ballistic missile program, which the United States and Western allies say violates UN restrictions.

The bill would also reauthorize the Iran Sanctions Act, which imposed sanctions over Iran's missile development and support for terrorism and expires at the end of 2016.

Lawmakers have been in discussions for months over the best way to address its renewal.

Corker said the bill "reasserts the proper role of Congress" by prohibiting a president from easing sanctions in order to implement an international agreement with Iran without securing congressional approval.